Sunday Morning Blog

May 24, 2005

Massachusetts Fails Children

[mood| confused]

Yesterdays Cape Cod Times had a letter to the editor that was quite disturbing. Martha Chaprut wrote of an experience with the court sytem that should have us all demanding new laws on the books. She told of being there for a friend's daughter who had been molested and witnessing the hurdles placed in front of the prosecution in these cases. In Massachusetts the victim is at a disadvantage. Yes, we have innocent until proven guilty – I understand and value this concept. However, previous convictions should be admissable in a molestation case. We look at previous convictions in drunk driving cases, why not in child molestation cases?!?! Why can't the prosecution call witnesses? That seems completely unbelievable and I am wondering if there is more to this. Am I missing something? How can the prosecution make a case if they can't call witnesses? Ms. Chaprut tells of the trial's outcome:

...the finding was not guilty - not unexpected, considering the obstacles. Please tell me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this brave little girl violated twice - once by her attacker and once by the legal system? And we instruct our children, if they're touched inappropriately, to tell someone. Why?

The lead story in today's CCTimes was a child pornography case. We hear more and more of high level sexual offenders living among us and skirting the laws. It is time we get tough on these people and make previous offenses admissable in court and their crimes a scarlet letter on their existence. Once one of these predators commits a crime once, they will repeat. There is no argument that could convince me the laws on the books are working. We have too many examples of the system's failure. It is time for an overhaul.

Posted by capecodcyclist at May 24, 2005 06:50 AM